Wadhurst ManorBarchester Healthcare

Activities at Wadhurst Manor Care Home

Name: Wadhurst Manor Care Home
Address: Station Road,, Wadhurst, TN5 6RY, GB
Telephone: 01892 629 528

Our teams are trained to enrich the lives of residents through stimulating the mind, body and soul, and taking the time to learn about each person to ensure everyone receives support that adds enrichment to their life.

On a weekly basis we have many visitors to the home from the people like the University of the Third age and local small animal farms, who bring in their chickens and sheep. We also like to go out shopping and on day trips to local garden centres and when the weather is good picnics and tours of the beautiful local countryside. We have speciality days at the home which could be a theme of a country, or for specific times of year, including Halloween, Bonfire Night or Christmas. We have card games and art classes and a serious knitting team in the home who produce blankets and premature baby clothes for the local maternity unit.

Read our brochure ‘Life-enriching activities’ for more information about life in our care homes.

Read our brochure

Zoe Aldea

Activities Lead

Hi, my name is Zoe and I am the Activities Lead at Wadhurst Manor.

I used to work with veterans for the Royal British Legion, and as an Art Studio Lead for a wonderful charity that built a village for people with learning disabilities.

I believe in the healing power of art, I feel strongly about building confidence and the wellness of our residents. My hobbies include Asian art and philosophy, acupuncture, yoga and martial arts. I believe art is a bridge that unites everyone no matter the race, beliefs or religion.

Celebrating life at Wadhurst Manor Care Home

Swing Concert

Richard, the son-in-law of our lovely resident Kath, came and delighted us with a swing concert.

The music set feet tapping, with residents and staff taking to the floor, and Kath singing a song with Richard. We never knew she is so talented, and asked for more.

Christmas morning

On Christmas morning, Santa and the Angel of Christmas visited our residents in their rooms and surprised them with beautiful gifts. Everyone wanted a picture with Santa, because on Christmas we are children at heart.

Afterwards, we improvised a choir and carolled them. Soon the residents joined us and sang lovely Christmas songs and carols.

Wadhurst Scarecrow Festival

Residents and the team participated in the search for clues, left for them by the Wadhurst Warriors, on the trail they created for the Wadhurst Scarecrow Festival. Like Sherlock Holmes copycats, they counted conkers, searched for birds, stars and other clues that would lead them to answers and to a possible prize.

All the village was searching with them and had great fun trying to play detective.

Residents love being part of the community and chatted to everyone on the trail.

Be an angel day!

We recently had a beautiful day with random acts of kindness by our residents.

We were also visited by our real life angel from the community, Leonie Mills, who creates hand made scented candles while fighting a debilitating illness.

Alice in Wonderland party

What a magical day we had! We tumbled down the rabbit hole into a world of wonder for our Alice in wonderland party, completed with a fabulous costume contest and a bittersweet farewell to our beloved Lori!

New Year's Eve

The Old Year ended with a blast in our care home! During the New Year’s Eve party, we decided to spoil our residents with champagne, wine and cheese tasting, and wonderful music that lifted our moods.

Our staff joined in and mingled with our residents, wishing them a Happy New Year and bringing good cheer!

Local Care Home launches Yoga for the Community

Wadhurst Manor Care Home, in Wadhurst, has launched a ‘Yoga for the Community’ programme, inviting the local community to join residents in their monthly sessions. These lively classes are seated, adapting traditional yoga poses for a chair, making it accessible for all levels, ages, and physical abilities.

This week yoga teacher Lou Murphy introduced residents and visitors to Pranayama (breathing exercises), physical postures (Asanas), hand gestures (Mudras) and Meditation (Dhyana). Residents particularly enjoyed yoga for the face which included sticking out their tongues for Lion’s Breath to increase energy levels and raising and waggling their eyebrows. The laughter these actions prompted was surely a great energy boost as well as enhancing mood.

!st place awarded at Stonegate Flower Show

Residents celebrated Arts in Care Homes with live virtual events and painting from the Royal Victoria and Albert Museum, sonnet writing, and arts and craft with Rozenn from Creative Minds.

What better way to end the week, than entering the results into the local Stonegate Flower Show who kindly invited us back this year, to attend on Saturday.

We were thrilled to see that our sonnet won first place, and resident Margaret, came 3rd in the original painting or drawing in any medium. Pat, was 3rd in the miniature flower arrangement.

Those who visited the Flower show were blown away by the standard of the exhibits and loved meeting the dogs from the dog show. After looking around they enjoyed lovely cake and a nice cup of coffee.

Corgi visit

Sonia, the daughter of one of our residents came with her corgis and friends to light up our residents moods. Lots of cuddles were involved.

Casino afternoon

We tried to emulate a casino afternoon, and we imagined we were in Vegas, Baby. We listened to crooners music, and learnt to play Black Jack, and Roulette. Exciting and competitive mood.

Christmas concert with Tanya

Tanya, one of our visiting entertainers, lit up the room, sending residents and staff on the floor dancing together. Even the most tired residents decided it was time to put on their dancing shoes and joined us.

They couldn’t resist our moves and the rhythm!

Girl Guides Evening Visit

What an amazing evening we had with Wadhurst Girl Guides. Our coffee lounge was a hive of activity and laughter. The guides got to know the residents chatting in small groups, and one resident brought out pictures to show them. Then, they split up into groups to share some games they had prepared, that were great for hand eye coordination. Everyone got involved. Afterwards we had a break to enjoy lovely refreshments, prepared by our chefs, the guides making sure the residents were served first. We finished with a game of Hangman.

It was such a wonderful intergenerational event, with everyone benefitting. The guides asked to come back and the residents all said they would love to see them again.

Summer fete

Our Summer Fête/Pirate Day was filled with laughter and plenty of pirate mischief. Residents, staff and families joined in for a joyful afternoon of fun and community spirit, creating a treasure of memories.

Divisional Winner - Registered Nurse Of The Year

Congratulations to our Care Awards 2025 Divisional Winner-for Registered Nurse of the Year category-Florin Mortoiu!

Today we celebrated his achievement, and we can proudly say there is no one that deserves it better! His dedication, compassion and professionalism elevate our home, and make our residents lives better!

Well done Florin, and good luck for the finals!

Tea dancing bingo at Young at Heart

We were invited by Young at Heart Club for a Tea Dancing Bingo, and everyone was dancing and sampling the tasty cakes. Always a lovely afternoon with their talented dancers, and new friends we made for life!